Corporate Social Responsibility Spending Research Articles

Collaborating a Dependent Business Model: Corporate Social Responsibility - Evidence from India

The research concludes that businesses in developing nations, notably India, exhibit a steadfast commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Despite marked advancements in CSR procedures, there remains a judgment for businesses to transcend self-interest and embrace a broader societal perspective. For multinational corporations (MNCs), robust CSR practices are indispensable for upholding their reputational integrity. The research utilizes secondary data of the Net Profit after taxes, CSR Spending and Budget for the Fiscal Years 2017–18 to 2021–22, Share prices for the fiscal years 2017–18 through 2021–22 on the BSE and NSE, and Sector-wise distribution of CSR initiatives from company websites, online databases, and annual reports. The findings suggest that businesses in developing nations, including India, are committed to CSR. While there has been an improvement in CSR practices, businesses are still not consistently going above and beyond or solely focusing on themselves. This study contributes valuable insights into the evolving CSR terrain within India, shedding light on the strides made and the persistent challenges encountered in fostering a symbiotic relationship between corporate profitability and social responsibility. By delineating these nuances, the research seeks to inform stakeholders and policymakers about the trajectory of CSR evolution, thereby fostering a conducive environment for sustainable and responsible business practices. The study provides valuable insights into the CSR landscape in India and the ongoing efforts to integrate responsible business practices.

Trend of Corporate Social Responsibility Spending by Public Sector Organisations: Evidence from Water Supply and Sanitation Authority in Tanzania

Background: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained prominence as organisations increasingly recognise their role in contributing to social and environmental well-being. This study focuses on the CSR spending trends of Public Water Supply and Sanitation Authorities (WSSAs) in Tanzania, shedding light on their commitment to sustainable development through social and environmental initiatives. Objective: The study aim was to assess the trends of CSR spending by WSSAs in Tanzania over a five-year period (2015-2019). Specifically, the study aims to identify areas of CSR investment and assess the distribution of financial resources among various CSR activities undertaken by WSSAs. Method: Secondary data from 114 WSSAs were analysed using descriptive methods, specifically the line graphs to show CSR spending trends, and paired t-tests gauged significant changes over the five years. Results: The study finding reveals a gradual increase in CSR spending by WSSAs in Tanzania from 2015 to 2019. This upward trend indicates a sustained dedication to fulfil social and environmental responsibilities, contributing to the broader goal of sustainable development. The study also indicates a preference for directing CSR resources towards social-oriented activities. Notably, the highest spending was observed in local educational programmes and health services, while the lowest spending was observed on sports and cultural festivals. Conclusion: The study emphasises fostering policies to encourage ongoing CSR spending by WSSAs, especially in impactful education and health areas. Collaborative frameworks with local communities can address social and environmental challenges, aligning initiatives with community needs for holistic regional development. Keywords: Corporate social responsibility spending, Public sector organisations, Tanzania

Does corporate social responsibility spending affect cash ratio: Evidence from central public sector enterprises

AbstractThe researcher examines the effect of spending on corporate social activities on cash holdings. The financial dataset was collected using the Prowess database and corporate social responsibility expenditure from the Indian CSR portal. Using a panel dataset of 12 Central Public Sector Enterprises indexed in the National Stock Exchange was considered as a sample for the current research. A random effect model was applied to test the hypothesis. The study's findings provide a positive indication of the causal effect of spending in corporate social activities on cash holdings. The author has considered the expenditure amount of corporate social responsibility on the sample of public sectors undertaking of India. As in previous studies, authors had considered CSR ratings. This study provides proficient information to the top management level, shareholders, and stakeholders of the Central Public Sector Enterprises regarding the disbursement of corporate social activities in India.

Social Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of Selected Public Sector Undertakings

This study analyses the social impact of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending undertaken by the major Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India. An attempt has been made to measure the social impact of CSR spending on selected PSUs by taking suitable proxies. A comparative study of the social impact of the selected PSUs with respect to CSR spending has been made by four-quadrant approach, taking high and low CSR spending and high and low social impact after normalising the data. Multiple regression analysis is used to measure the social impacts of different CSR activities. CSR activities have been ranked in terms of their social impact.

Does mandatory expenditure on CSR affect firm value? Empirical evidence from Indian firms

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the impact of mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending on firm value in the Indian context.Design/methodology/approachUsing firm-level data over the period 2012–2017, this study uses the difference-in-differences (DID) technique combined with matching to control for potential endogeneity of the decision to comply with the CSR Act since the Act in its current form is applicable as a comply-or-explain obligation.FindingsThe results of this study suggest that mandatory CSR spending has a positive and statistically significant impact on firm value. These results remain robust to alternative econometric techniques such as regression discontinuity design (RDD) and randomization inference test as well as to alternative empirical specifications. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the positive effect of CSR spending on firm value is more pronounced for firms with higher information asymmetry problem and lower institutional holdings.Originality/valueThis study explicitly considers the “comply-or-explain” flexibility option, in terms of spending on CSR, provided to Indian firms for the initial two to three years and investigates whether spending on CSR helps firms enhance their firm value. The study also finds that the positive effect of CSR spending on firm value is more pronounced for firms with higher information asymmetry problems and lower institutional holdings.

Mandatory corporate social responsibility spending, family control, and the cost of debt

This paper examines how corporate compliance with the mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending regulation affects its cost of debt and how this effect varies with family control and ownership. Utilizing a longitudinal sample of Indian listed firms, we document that compliance with the CSR spending regulation leads to a lower cost of debt, and this relationship is more salient in non-family firms than in family firms. Moreover, the attenuation effect of family firms is stronger in firms both controlled and managed by families, with larger family ownership or managed by non-founder CEOs. We also find that the efficacy of compliance in reducing the cost of borrowing is stronger in firms engaged in CSR activities before the regulatory mandate. Our results are robust to endogeneity tests, different estimation methods, and alternative measures. Overall, we demonstrate that CSR compliance conveys valuable information on firm characteristics through both signaling and screening channels, consequently affecting debtholders' evaluation of firm risk and shaping their lending decisions. However, debtholders' assessments and decisions vary with firms’ ownership and control structure.

Mandatory CSR regulations and social disclosure: the mediating role of the CSR committee

Purpose This study aims to examine the association between mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) regulations (CSR mandate) and social disclosures (SOCDS) in India. It also investigates whether CSR committees mediate the relationship between CSR mandate and SOCDS. Furthermore, this paper explores how business group (BG) affiliation moderates CSR committee quality and SOCDS. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a data set of 5,345 observations from the Bombay stock exchange (BSE)-listed firms over 10 years (2011–2020) to examine the research questions. Baron and Kenny’s (1986) three-step model is estimated to examine the mediating role of CSR committees on the relationship between CSR mandate and SOCDS. Findings The study reveals that the CSR mandate positively impacts SOCDS in India due to coercive pressures. CSR committees mediate this relationship, with higher CSR committee quality leading to increased SOCDS. Furthermore, the authors report that SOCDS in India is positively related to CSR committee quality, and this relationship is stronger for BG firms. Finally, the supplementary analysis reveals that promoting CSR committee quality enhances firms’ likelihood of meeting CSR mandatory spending and actual CSR spending in India. Originality/value This research contributes to the academic literature by shedding light on the intricate dynamics of CSR mandates, CSR committees and SOCDS in emerging economies. Notably, the authors identify the previously unexplored mediation role of CSR committees in the link between CSR mandates and SOCDS. The creation of a composite index that measures complementary CSR committee attributes allows us to undertake a novel assessment of CSR committee quality. An examination of the moderating influence of BG affiliation documents the importance of CSR committee quality, particularly in governance, for enhancing SOCDS transparency within BG firms.

Does Ownership Influence Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? A Study Of Post-Csr Law Implementation In India

Objective: This study examines the influence of different ownership structures on corporate social responsibility spending in a mandatory CSR regime. Method: We use the CSR data under statutory mandate reported by the top 500 publicly listed Indian firms of the first four years after CSR law implementation in 2014 on Bombay Stock Exchange and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs website. Using institutional and agency theory arguments, we hypothesize that ownership structure influences CSR spending. We use multiple logistics regression for our statistical analyses. Results: In line with our prediction, our results reveal that different ownership structures influence the variation in CSR spending. Foreign firms spend on CSR at par with the statutory mandate. Government firms spend above the statutory mandate, and promoter-owned firms spend below the statutory mandate. Conclusion: Through CSR spending on social development initiatives, firms can contribute to the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDGs) and build their credibility among stakeholders. Our study explains the influence of different ownership structures on CSR spending in a mandatory CSR regime. This study can help policymakers revisit the CSR law provisions by understanding why some firms are spending more and why some firms are spending less on CSR and encourage firms to spend more on CSR initiatives. We leverage institutional and agency theory to explain our findings.

The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility Spending on Firm Performance with Earnings Management as a Moderating Variable: Evidence from the Indian Market

This study seeks to examine the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending on firm performance (FP) and supplementary examine the contraction effect of CSR spending and earning management (EM) on the FP in the setting of Indian companies. The sample size employed in this study is 82 companies from S&P BSE 100 index during 2015&–2021. Further, Tobin&’s Q is used as an indicator for measuring the FP. The modified Jones model is employed as a proxy to quantify EM in the form of discretionary accruals (DACC). The methodological model for analysis followed in the work is pooled ordinary least square. The study reveals pragmatic evidence that enterprises engaged in the exercise of EM have no encouragement in CSR spending. In addition to this, the second hypothesis, based on EM, CSR, and earnings management, negatively influences FP in the Indian context. The results of this research will be of certain interest to business owners who want to gauge the efficacy of directors&’ and managers&’ sustainability choices, as well as investors and public authorities who want to evaluate the positive correlation between CSR and a company&’s performance and image, and therefore, the favorable impact on the firm&’s performance.

Corporate social responsibility and sustainable development goals: evidence from responsible business leaders

Purpose This study aims to provide a framework aligning corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives with sustainable development goals (SDGs) 2030, applying the triple bottom line (TBL) approach. The research examines and evaluates the reach of Maharatna Central Public Sector Enterprises’ (CPSE) CSR spending towards sustainability and maps them with SDGs focusing on economic, social and environmental aspects. In addition, state-wise spending for CSR of all eligible Indian companies has been discussed. Design/methodology/approach The study used secondary data related to CSR spending and disclosure from the annual reports and sustainability reports accessible on the official websites of CPSE, Global Reporting Initiative standards, CSR Guidelines of Department of Public Enterprises and Securities Exchange Board of India, Government of India’s National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC) (2018) research papers, financial dailies and websites. The study includes the CPSEs awarded with the status of Maharatna companies under the Guidelines of Maharatna Scheme for CPSEs. Findings The top CSR initiatives focused on by Maharatna companies were related to poverty, hunger, sanitation and well-being, promotion of education and contribution to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund. These initiatives aligned with the top SDGs related to life on land, education and health care, which proved responsible business leadership (RBL) through TBL. The alignment indicates that India is moving towards sustainable development achievements systematically. Practical implications The practical consequences can be understood through the CSR spending of Maharatna Public Sector Undertakings towards economic, social and environmental aspects. The spending demonstrates their commitment, which other public and private sector organizations can adopt. Social implications The Government of India’s NGRBC’s guidelines towards inclusive growth and equitable development, addressing environmental concerns, and being responsive to all its stakeholders is a thorough indication of driving the business towards being more responsible. This research has developed a framework aligning CSR and SDG through the TBL approach, which other developing countries can adopt as a model. Originality/value There is dearth of research among public sector company’s contribution towards attaining SDGs and demonstrating RBL. This research fulfils this gap. Mapping CSR activities to SDG’s also has not been clearly carried out in previous research, which is a contribution of this study.

Adoption of environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) among small and medium enterprises (SMEs): an examination through behavioral leadership decision-making

Despite studies on CSR, not a single research study has been conducted on leadership behavior for environmental CSR in SMEs. The CSR spending in the environment was skewed towards sectors other than the environment. In this context, this paper addresses the research gap through the Behavioral Reasoning Theory (BRT). Information was gathered through a structured questionnaire from leaders of 353 Indian SMEs. Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Structural Equation Modelling were employed to process the data. The leadership “value” positively impacted leadership “motives”, and the “motive” positively impacted behavioral leadership “intention” for environmental CSR. The “Reason for” (improved firm performance, competitive advantage, image, and risk mitigation) had a positive association with the value and motive of SME leaders. The “Reason against” (lack of knowledge, personal commitment, and lack of time) is negatively associated with SME leaders’ “value,” “motive” (attitude, subjective norms, and perceived control), and “behavioral intention” for environmental CSR.

Board of directors, COVID-19, and corporate social responsibility monetary performance: direct and interaction effects analysis

Purpose This study aims to provide archival evidence on the impact of board characteristics on corporate social responsibility (CSR) monetary performance and how they interact with the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of CSR monetary performance. Design/methodology/approach This study analyzes listed companies in Oman’s capital market from 2016 to 2021, using pooled ordinary least squares and unique CSR performance measures such as budgeting and spending. Findings The study finds that companies with more expertise and frequent meetings are more likely to allocate a larger budget for CSR activities. However, this does not apply to larger boards or to independent directors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the effect of independent directors on CSR budgeting and spending is more pronounced, and boards with more expertise and meetings show a negative interaction with the pandemic. The interaction of board characteristics with COVID-19 in terms of CSR monetary performance varies depending on company size. Board independence and expertise show a significant reaction to COVID-19 infection and death cases when setting CSR budgeting and spending. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study are stimulating, but stem from an emerging country with unique cultural and institutional characteristics. Methodological issues were also encountered during the analysis, so readers should exercise caution when applying the results to other settings. Practical implications This study highlights board involvement in deciding a company’s CSR investment, as it was believed that chief executive officers are considered responsible for CSR activities. Additionally, this research underscores the significance of incorporating the financial aspects of CSR into reporting. Originality/value This study examines the seldom explored relationship between corporate boards and CSR monetary aspects during regular and irregular times, offering theoretical and practical insights that benefit multiple stakeholders.

Mandatory CSR spending, ESG and firm performance: evidence from Bombay stock exchange

PurposeThe study attempts to examine the impact of mandatory corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending and inclusion of firms into the environment, social and governance (ESG) index of BSE India on the performance of firms constituting firms under the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) 100 Index.Design/methodology/approachThe stock prices of the firms were collected from the official website of BSE India for a total of 32 firms and the System Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model was utilized for analyzing the data for the present study.FindingsThe study found that the investors in the Indian market do consider the CSR spending and ESG listing as a factor while framing the investment strategy; however, ESG listing is least preferred. Among the other variables, AGE, DPS, EPS and BVPS have a significant positive bearing on the firm's performance, while SIZE has a significant negative impact on the firm's performance.Research limitations/implicationsFurther investigation is needed to understand the factors that influence investment decision-making, including why investors tend to overlook CSR and environmental protection. Future research can identify ways to increase the importance of these factors in investment decision-making. Future research can explore the long-term impact of investing in socially responsible companies, including whether such investments lead to better long-term performance.Practical implicationsThere is a need for increased awareness of the importance of CSR among investors. Educational programs and campaigns can be used to inform investors about the potential benefits of considering social responsibility factors in investment decision-making. Companies that prioritize CSR and environmental protection should distinguish themselves from competitors in the eyes of investors. This can lead to higher investment and potentially higher returns for these companies.Originality/valueSince mandatory CSR expenditure and the launch of the ESG index by the BSE have been introduced in India recently, hardly any study in India has examined the impact of the same on the firm's performance.

Managerial understanding of corporate social responsibility in Nepal

PurposeConsidering the ongoing debate regarding the roles of business in society, this paper aims to examine the managerial understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Nepal.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses explanatory sequential design under mixed methods of research. First, the questionnaire survey method was used to collect data from 168 managers of listed companies in Nepal. Second, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 senior-level managers of listed companies to verify the results obtained from the survey and to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomena.FindingsThe survey results show that managerial understanding of CSR is mainly guided by the notions of corporate philanthropy, stakeholder approach and political CSR, respectively. However, the managerial understanding vis-à-vis political CSR and corporate philanthropy were found to be remarkably positively influenced by the firm’s size, whereas the stakeholder perspective was widely held by the managers regardless of their firm’s size. The interview results largely substantiated questionnaire survey findings and further revealed vivid dimensions within the philanthropic approach, stakeholder approach and political CSR.Practical implicationsGiven the recent legal provisions vis-à-vis mandatory CSR spending in Nepal, the policymakers may devise and update common core and firm-size-specific informational, fiscal-economic, legal and partnering instruments based on the findings of this study. Besides, companies may go for appropriate institutional arrangements for CSR as needed.Originality/valueThe reaffirmation of conventionally accepted roles and the approval of relatively nascent political roles of business in a distinct socio–political–legal–economic context of Nepal can be an important contribution to the literature.

Stock Pledge by Controlling Shareholder and Corporate Social Responsibility*

AbstractWe examine the influence of stock pledge by controlling shareholders on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Results show that firms exhibit poorer CSR performance when the controlling shareholders have more shares under pledge to financial institutions. Further analyses suggest that the negative relation between stock pledge and CSR only exists in financially constrained firms and non‐state‐owned firms, in which the pledging controlling shareholders have greater incentive to increase stock price and maintain their control rights. Our findings support a margin call hypothesis that firms tend to cut off CSR spending to improve short‐term financial performance and reduce the risk of losing control rights.

Is there a mediating role of corporate social responsibility between board independence, board diversity, and dividend payouts decision?

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the mediating role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the link between board independence, board diversity and dividend payouts underpinning the agency theory perspective. As boards are ultimately responsible for decision-making, it includes CSR, dividend payouts and other strategic decisions.Design/methodology/approachBoard independence and board diversity (female director, female independent director) are used as explanatory variables, CSR scores as a mediator and dividend payout explained variables. The relevant data were collected from 159 listed firms of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) from 2013 to 2019, consisting of 1,113 year-firm observations. For empirical estimation, the study used the Tobit regression analysis and Sobel test to check the significance of the mediation to confirm the hypothesis.FindingsThe results confirm that independence and diversity on the board are positively related to dividend payouts. Further, CSR partially mediates the link between independence and diversity on board-dividend payouts, which confirms the argument that firms with involvement in CSR practices are also associated with dividend payouts.Research limitations/implicationsTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is novel to address whether CSR mediates the link of the board’s independence and diversity and dividend payouts in Pakistan’s setting. The results of this study have restricted generalizability due to the specific nature of the sample characteristics; future researchers can extend the research scope.Practical implicationsTheoretically practically, the results imply that CSR spending also enhances the distribution to firms' shareholders, thus becoming attractive to investors. This study enriches the literature on board attributes-dividend policy nexus, which strengthens through CSR practices and is relevant to practice in line with sustainable development in an emerging context.Originality/valueCSR practices are an understudied but significant factor that links stakeholders' beliefs about firms' decision-making strategies, enhancing dividend announcements. In doing so, this study's findings contribute to the literature, regulators, shareholders and investor at various levels.

Women and CSR budgeting and spending: Does ownership enhance their CSR role?

AbstractWe investigate the impact of women shareholders on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and how they interact with women directors to exert a greater influence on CSR activities. Little is known about how women's ownership can enhance their roles in CSR practices. Based on data from Omani‐listed firms during 2016–2020 and using CSR budgeting and spending as proxies for CSR activities, firms with women shareholders allocate more CSR budgeting and spend more money on CSR activities. However, we also find that women directors can only affect CSR budgeting and spending if their representation on the board is increased. Furthermore, we find that firms with women shareholders and directors have higher CSR budgeting and spending. Further analysis reveals that women shareholders are more likely to spend money on CSR activities within the budgeted amount and are less likely to be associated with gaps between CSR budgeting and spending. This analysis also shows that the type of ownership (family versus non‐family) influences women shareholders' effects on CSR budgeting and spending. Our empirical findings provide critical insights into how woman shareholders influence CSR actions.

Equity market performance: The role of environmental protection and corporate social responsibility efforts

AbstractBusinesses that contribute to social welfare and development are regarded as reliable and generate more wealth for their stakeholders. This study attempts to determine how corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental protection measures influence the financial performance of Indian businesses. A panel dataset containing 330 Nifty 500 companies is included to determine their relationship. The quarterly and semi‐annual share prices are employed as proxies for the financial performance of companies. In the regression model, the lagged share prices (log) of two periods serve as the response variable, while the CSR and the CSR plus the environment and pollution control expenses (CSREP) serve as explanatory variables. The results suggest that the fixed‐effect regression model is suitable where the explanatory variables are time‐invariant and the relationship between the dependent and explanatory variables across firms is constant over time. Our analysis indicates that CSR spending alone has little effect on the share prices of companies over two prospective time periods. However, as companies invest more in environmental and pollution control activities in addition to their CSR expenditure, the market recognises this as a significant factor, and their share prices rise. Consequently, we discovered that CSREP (CSR plus environmental and pollution control expenditure) is a significant factor that influences quarterly and semi‐annual share prices.

Valuation Implications of Mandatory CSR Expenditure in India

We examine the value‐relevance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditure utilizing the Indian setting of mandatory CSR spending regulation which commenced in 2014. India is the only country where regulators mandate both CSR reporting and spending. Our interest is in two types of firms that meet the minimum specified thresholds: firms that voluntarily made CSR expenditures pre‐regulation (voluntary spenders) and firms that did not (forced spenders). This separation in revealed preference allows researchers and investors to observe, at least on average, a firm's true CSR strategy type (proactive/leader versus reactive/follower) through their pre‐regulation expenditure strategy. This unique quasi‐experimental setting allows us to investigate whether CSR spending is positively associated with shareholders’ value, both when spending was voluntary pre‐regulation (for voluntary spenders) and after it became mandatory post‐regulation (for voluntary and forced spenders). We find that for voluntary spenders, the markets assess CSR expenditure as valuation‐enhancing pre‐regulation, but post‐regulation the valuation benefits are significantly weakened. The market's assessment is that a forced spender's (imposed) CSR expenditure is, on average, less valuable than that of voluntary spenders, consistent with such spending being viewed as a form of corporate taxation. Further, we find that shortfalls from the required spending amount are penalized by the market for voluntary spenders but rewarded for forced spenders. We also find that advertising appears to play an important communication role both pre‐ and post‐regulation. We view the results as being consistent with the notion that mandated expenditures are viewed differently than those made voluntarily.

Corporate social responsibility expenditure and financial performance: the moderating role of family ownership

Purpose The paper aims to examine how Indian non-financial service sector companies’ financial performance is influenced by their corporate social responsibility (CSR) expenditures. The paper also analyses whether family ownership has a moderating role in the CSR expenditure–financial performance association. Design/methodology/approach The study includes 288 non-financial service sector companies listed in India with 3,456 firm-year observations. Panel data regression analysis using data for 12 years, starting from 2010 to 2021, is carried out. Findings The study reveals a positive influence of CSR spending on financial performance measures (Tobin’s Q and return on assets). Mandatory CSR policies also influence the company’s performance. Additionally, family ownership has a positive moderating effect on CSR expenditure–financial performance (Tobin’s Q). Research limitations/implications The study gives insights to the managers on how CSR expenditures can be used to maximise their benefits by supporting social causes, particularly in the case of firms with ownership structures where family involvement is there. Originality/value The prior studies analysing family ownership effect on the CSR–financial performance relationship are fewer, and in a country like India, where corporate philanthropy is a part of the family business culture, there is a need to understand how CSR spending influences firm performance.